Gaining momentum

Ok, so after my meeting with Paul last week I have decided to go ahead with the sampling plan. I finally got my audio interface sorted in my room, so I can record the majority of the drum parts here using my electric kit, rather than use the university's facilities; which is good because I tend to be more productive if I have a good flow of coffee to hand and can work at my leisure.

Have been thinking more about my "chapters" and started work on one of the final pieces that will be in the later chapter. I have decided to include a bass track to jam along to in this case: nothing overly complicated, just some midi bass. On the final CD this composition will be presented once with just the bass, no drums or click track, once with bass and a click track, and once bass, drums and a click track.

I still need to write out some "Case Studies" for a few of the books I've looked at as inspiration. I think I will use my "Rock Drum Basics: Steps 1+2" book, as it has a CD with it and includes tracks at the end where you jam with a bassist, and it is more similarly laid out to how my book will be (and contain similar exercises to my early chapter). I will also include my "Guildhall grades 1-4 book" because it is a completely different style of teaching, where it just gives the set pieces and that is it. I'll also do one of my "Guidhall Snare Drum" grade books, because they focus a lot on different time signatures, and drum duets and solo snare drum compositions. And finally my "Rockschool Grade 8" book, because it is similar to my book in terms of audio CD playalong type thing, but doesn't contain any of the tutorial exercises I intend to include. I may also do one for "Rhythm" magazine, because it contains articles for tuition, I guess I'd be weighing up the pros and cons of it, like keeping totally up to date and fresh with current music, but is one month between learning new things + monthly expenses.

I am bad at blog

Well, I haven't been updating my blog, but I haven't had a lot to say as far as Major Project goes; it has taken a back seat since Christmas as I've been busy with other assignments.

Still, the DVD authoring and surround recording presentation went... well? I guess it was the shape of the room, but there was some massive bass buzz on all of my tracks which I'm sure I got rid of in the studio, Anyway, now I have a couple of weeks to concentrate on my major project and getting most of the compositions done if I can.

I had an idea for creating some of my own drum samples and then recording my parts using an electric drum kit. This would mean it's easier to adjust the tracks to make them more in time and fix any duff notes, the only problem though is that this would remove some of the recording element of my project.

I would still record some drum parts, as I want the duets to sound like a different drummer on their own kit is playing in the room with you, but this could end up being only about 15 minutes worth of recorded material + the material for my own samples, then the rest would essentially be midi sequencing. I guess I could push that I'm striving for as much realism as possible through digital techniques.. or something.

Anyway, I'm organising a meeting with Paul sometime next week to discuss it, then I can really get into my project properly.